NY Property Manager Of Manchester Complex Accused Of Discrimination

New York manager of three CT apartment complexes hit with discrimination complaint.

Housing advocates in Connecticut and two other states are taking aim at a property management company's policies they argue discriminate against families with children.

The Connecticut Fair Housing Center and advocates in Indiana and Ohio have filed a fair housing complaint against TGM Associates, a New York-based property management company that owns and manages apartment complexes nationwide. The complaint focuses on five complexes, including the 270-unit TGM Waterford Commons in Manchester.

The complaint alleges TGM restricted occupancy to no more than two people for each bedroom in an apartment unit, ignoring the overall square footage or whether the unit has a den, office, loft or other space that could provide for additional bedroom or living space for a child.

"In every property evaluated by the fair housing groups, TGM was found to have denied housing to families with children despite the apartments having ample square footage allowed by local codes for the family size," a joint news release from the housing advocates Wednesday stated.

The complaint is not about trying to squeeze "15 people into a two-bedroom apartment," Kemple said.

"But to have the least amount of impact on families with kids, it has to be based on square footage," Kemple said.

Kemple said the regulations call for 150 square feet for the first occupant and 100 square feet for each additional tenant. The square footage excludes kitchens and bathrooms that are not considered spaces that could be used for bedrooms, she said.

A TGM executive said Wednesday it had received the complaint five days ago and was still reviewing how its policies matched up with housing codes in the different states and municipalities.

"TGM in no way set out to create an unfair environment," said John Gochberg, a TGM partner and chief operating officer. "In fact, it has always been our intention to have clarity and be consistent on that which we do across the country."

Gochberg said TGM believed it was following fair housing laws and looked forward to quickly resolving the matter.

In addition to Manchester, TGM has apartment complexes in Danbury and Stamford.

According to its website, TGM, founded in 1991, has 50 apartment properties in 23 states and more than 13,000 rental units.